| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2013-07-03 |
| Diameter: | 0.76 inches |
| Length: | 18.25 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Centuri |
| Style: | Multi-Stage |
Brief
Two-stage minimum diameter kit with pass-port staging coupler.
Components
- Two lengths of ST-7 tubes, one for substainer, one for booster; red plastic nose cone; and balsa fins;
- Elastic shock cord with two one-inch crepe-paper streamers; pass-port phenolic coupler (w/two holes)
- Waterslide decals
Construction
I bought a nearly completed kit from a former NAR member who showed up at a CSAR meeting with Dr. Gregorek in June 2012. I only had to attach the nose cone and streamers after painting. I also had to glue the rear engine block into the booster after checking where the engines stopped in the substainer and booster (see the instructions). The shock cord uses a slit-tube attachment method due to the needed room for the dual streamer arrangement.
Finishing
I missed this comment in the instructions until after the model was painted: Don't paint the last inch of the body tube where thepass-port coupler covers it.
I had to sand the inside of the holed coupler after the first flight to remove paint on the lower end of the upper body tube. I was able to use the approximately 35 year-old decals with only minor tears in them. This is unusual. Most decals shred when they're that old. But, I took the chance :-). I reccommend cutting the actual stillettos into three pieces even if you buy new repros. As three wrap-around knives together are just begging to tear :-(.
I painted the booster Krylon Banner Red and the substainer Gloss Black. I left the nose cone unpainted as it almost matches the Banner Red booster. White decals show up well on these two colors. I finished with Model Masters Gloss lacquer.
Flight
I made the first flight with two old Estes engines; a 1977 (G in engine code) A8-0 and a 1983 (L in engine code) 1/2 A6-4 in upper stage. They'd been in my flight box(es) for several years. The flight seemed to be perfect. And after staging, the ejection charge on the 1/2 A popped it near apogee. After retreiving it from Darree Fields Dublin Park soccer fields I saw that there were three tears at the front end of the body tube apparently from either pressure-stress at ejection or snap back from the nose cone. I suspect the former as the slight tears (1/4 inch) in the ST-7 are too uniform for the snap-back damage I've seen over the years. I had the upper-stage engine taped in pretty tightly.
Recovery
Centuri has you cut the 1-inch crepe-paper streamer material into two 30-inch pieces. They worked well on the first flight. The model is light and came down slowly. You might try 1-inch orange surveyor's plastic material instead of the crepe-paper supplied with the kit. It might last longer as the paper tears easily.
Summary
Great beginner's two stage kit. With pass-port system it eliminates taping engines together and increases your chance of successful staging. Would not reccommend using C motors in this kit. You are likely to lose it even if you are an experienced flier. It went to 300 feet on A8-0 & 1/2 A 6-4.
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